Insecticide distributor



Nov. 28, 1950 A. w. GUSTAFSON INSECTICIDE DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1948 Nov. 28, 1950 A. w. GUSTAFSON 'INSECTICIDE DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1.948

Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to an insecticide distributor particularly adapted for use in applying insecticides or like materials to growing crops or vegetation.

An object of the invention is to provide an oscillatory discharge nozzle assembly for an insecticide distributor through which powder or liquid is distributed, wherein the reactionary force of a fluid medium such as air discharged therethrough is utilized to cause oscillation of the nozzle.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide novel linkage means in conjunction with the discharge nozzle for automatically reversing the position of the discharge nozzle at the end of each stroke so that thereaction force of the discharge will swing the nozzle in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insecticide distributing nozzle assembly in which the amplitude of oscillation thereof may be changed as desired to suit varying conditions and requirements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a discharge nozzle assembly wherein Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the forward end of a modified distributor nozzle.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown at 2 a frame which is adapted for mounting on a suitable vehicle or carrier, such as a tractor, whereby the distributor mechanism may be transported across fields to dust or spray the crops therein. Mounted in any suitable fashion on the frame 2 is a blower 3 which may be of the centrifugal type, and arranged to force a high velocity stream of air through a discharge outthe nozzle is caused to swing relative to the remainder of the discharge structure at the end of each oscillatory movement in a direction to increase its discharge angle and the component of the reaction force producing the oscillatory movement.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the annexed drawings and the following description wherein I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, together with a modification thereof. However, I recognize that the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and that various details thereof may be modified, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative of one type of apparatus exhibiting the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an insecticide distributor unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the distributor nozzle in the neutral position with the phantom lines representing the nozzle as it appears when at.

tion through the forward end of the distributor.

nozzle.

blower may be threaded at 5, or otherwise adapted for coupling to a suitable drive shaft (not shown).

A dust receptacle is mounted on the frame 2 and in the illustrated embodiment is suspended by hangers 1 from suitable cross pieces on the frame 2. This receptacle or hopper is for the purpose of holding a supply ofinsecticide dust or powder and feeding it into the air stream of the blower 3. To this end an outlet pipe 8 extends from the hopper 6 into communication with the blower 3. In the construction shown, the charging aperture of the hopper 6 is normally closed by a removable plate 9, which may be removed when it is desired to place a fresh charge of dust in the hopper.

The insecticide may be moved from the hopper by well known means driven by the sheave [9a fixed to the end of an agitator shaft and coupled to a power driven pulley 50 a belt H. The blower and hopper may be of any conventional construction and arrangement, such as disclosed in my prior Patents 2,283,805 and 2,359,520. These elements exemplify one form of means for supplying an insecticide laden air stream to the novel distributing nozzle.

In carrying out the present invention, the blower discharge conduit 4 serves as and may exemplify any stationary support on which the oscillatory discharge nozzle assembly of the invention is mounted. The discharge nozzle asfree or discharge end of the tube it is provided with a nozzle 52 which may be secured to the tube H) by a clamp I3. The nozzle 12 may be formed of a suitable metal or plastic material and has an arcuate annular wall I i defining an annular chamber I5 concentric to the discharge Orifice l6 of the nozzle [2. It will be noted that the inner periphery of the annular wall I6 defines a constricted air discharge orifice for the nozzle I2 and thereby provides for accelerating the velocity of the air discharged from the nozzle I2.

Means for supplying a liquid to the chamber I may comprise a pipe I? in communication with this chamber. This pipe I! is connected to one end of a flexible hose I9 which extends interiorly of the tube Iii into the conduit 4. The hose I9 is connected to the inner terminal of a pipe fitting 20 projecting through the wall of the conduit 4. Liquid under pressure may be supplied to the pipe fitting 23. It will thus be seen that the flexible hose or supply line I9 will permit liquid to be supplied to the annular chamber I5 during swinging movement or oscillation of the tube III. A series of fluid discharge perforations 2I are provided at the free end of the nozzle I2 so directed as to discharge a plurality of jets of liquid into the air stream issuing through the opening I 6. These perforations 2i are so arranged that the several jets of liquid therefrom will be proj'ected to converge forwardly of the free end of the nozzle I2.

The invention includes novel means for automatically utilizing the reaction force of the air and other material discharged through the tube IQ for automatically swinging or oscillating the tube through a given path to elTect efiicient and wide distribution of the insecticide material. To this end, means are provided for guiding the free end of the tube It in a given, preferably horizontal plane during its oscillation, and for drawing the free end of the tube towards the fixed end during oscillation so as to bow or flex the medial portion of the tube IEI horizontally to one side or the other of a line extending between the ends, thereby causing the discharge end of the tube, as defined by the nozzle I2 to be directed at an angle to the radius of oscillation. Such means may comprise a rigid horizontal arm, designated 22, mounted below the tube It and having a vertically depending rear end or pintle 23 journalled in a bracket 24 in the axial plane of the rear end of the tube ID.

The free end of the tube It is axially displaced toward the fixed rear end thereof and connected to the free end of the arm 22 to be thereby maintained in its axially displaced condition at all times during operation. The connection between the arm 22 and the tube It is such as to permit relative rotary movement therebetween only in a horizontal plane so that in assuming the bowed position the free end and adjacent medial portion of the tube It will swing about the axis of the connection in a horizontal plane.

Such a connection may comprise a vertical pivot pin 25 carried adjacent the free end of the tube Ill. The upper end of the pin 25 may be formed integral with a washer 28 which is positioned between the adjoining ends of the clamp I3 by means of a clamp bolt 21 disposed through the ends of the clamp and the washer. Carried at the free end of the arm 22 is a vertically disposed sleeve 28 which is rotatable on the pin 25 and thus restricts the rotary movement between the arm 22 and tube It to one plane. If desired, the pin may be threaded and of sufficient length to project completely through the sleeve 28 to be held against displacement by a nut 29 threaded on its lower end.

This construction of the pivot pin 25 and its assembly with the tube I permits the free end or nozzle I2 of the tube to be adjusted vertically about the axis of the bolt 21. Thus by loosening the bolt 21, the nozzle may be adjusted to the desired vertical angle, and tightening the bolt will bring the ends of the clamp I3 into frictional engagement with the washer 26. Thus the nozzle I2 may be directed to discharge at any of various vertical angles.

In order to provide means for varying the horizontal discharge angle, and the amplitude of oscillation of the free end or nozzle I2 of the tube, it is desirable to provide a construction of the arm 22 which is adjustable. Accordingly, two relatively telescopically arranged sections 30 and 3I are provided and the rear or tubular section 30 has one or more set screws 32 threaded through its wall to engage and maintain the coaxially received forward section 3| at any desired position of axial adjustment.

In the use of the complete device, with the tube II! at rest in the neutral position substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the blower 3 is placed in operation to force air through the tube I 0. The reactionary force exerted on the free end or nozzle I2 by the discharge of the air at an angle to theradius of oscillation of the tube will exert a thrust against the nozzle opposite to the direction of discharge. This thrust will cause the tube IE] to flex or bend from its fixed end in the direction indicated by the arrow 35 in Fig. 3, and such flexing or bending will be in opposition to the curvature of the bow maintained in the tube by the action of the arm 22. As the swing of the tube continues, the resistance of the tube to continued swinging will progressively increase until a point is reached where it exceeds the compressional forces and stresses tending to maintain the bow in the tube, whereupon the direction of the bow and the discharge angle of the nozzle I 2 will be reversed and the tube I will commence its return swing in the opposite direction. The tube In is shown in phantom lines on the right hand side of Fig. 3 substantially as it will appear immediately after the discharge angle of the nozzle I 2 has been reversed to initiate'the return swing. In this position, it will be seen that the nozzle I2 is directed at an angle X relative to its radius of swinging movement.

During the reverse swing, the same action occurs as soon as the tube has been returned to its neutral position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3, so that at the end of the reverse swing the direction of the bow in the tube I0 will be again reversed and .the tube will assume a position substantially as indicated in phantom lines at the left in Fig. 3, with the nozzle I2 directed at an angle to its axis of swinging movement, to initiate a further stroke of the nozzle. Thus it will be seen that the discharge angle of the nozzle will be periodically automatically reversed relative to the radius of oscillation at the end of each stroke to produce continuous oscillation of the tube I0.

When the pivot 23 defining the axis of swinging movement of the arm 22 and the tube It is located forwardly of the rear fixed end of the tube, the arm 22 will tend to increasingly compress the tube in an endwise direction during swinging movement of the tube from dead center position toward either of its extreme positions. This will increase the discharge angle of the nozzle I2 and the tangential component of the reaction force acting thereon sufiiciently to overcome the progressively increasing resistance of the tube to continued flexing movement.

Where it is desired to employ the device as a duster, the drive means for the dust hopper 6 may" the preferred embodiment of the invention.

. q be set in operation to inject the insecticide or the like into the blower air stream, whereby the powder will be conveyed through the tube Ill and distributed over a relatively wide area, due to both the velocity of its discharge and the oscillation of the tube H]. In order to make the dust or powder settle rapidly and adhere to the vegetation under treatment, the supply means for the annular chamber Id of the nozzle may be actuated to cause a discharge of liquid into the dust laden air stream issuing from the nozzle. Such liquid will become converted into a highly concentrated mist which becomes thoroughly mixed with the dust thereby causing the dust to settle rapidly and rendering the same pasty so that it will readily adhere to the vegetation on which it is deposited. When it is desired to employ the apparatus simply as a sprayer, the drive means for the dust hopper 6 maybe turned off or temporarily disconnected, whereupon the liquid will be emciently distributed by the air stream iissuing from the nozzle.

The width of the path covered by the device, as the apparatus is drawn over a field, may be governed by adjusting the length of the arm 22 and consequently the amplitude of oscillation of the arm iii. For instance, where it is desired to spray or dust in only a relatively narrow path, the length of the arm 22 is increased to thereby decrease the curvature of the tube and the discharge angle of its free end or nozzle l2. Where it is desired to increase the amplitude of oscillation and the width of the path covered, the arm 22 is shortened to incease the discharge angle of the free end of the tube In relative to its radius of oscillation.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the construction and arrangement of the various elements is similar in all material respects except that a modified form of nozzle Ali! is substituted for the nozzle i2. Such a nozzle is disposed about and loosely receives the free end or the tube in to normally leave a small amount of clearance therebetween, and is pivotally connected to the tube H! by vertical pivots 4i projecting diametrically from the tube, so that the nozzle lil is free to pivot horizontally about the axis of these pivots M between equal opposite angular positions which may be determined by engagement of the rear edge of the nozzle 40 with the exterior of the tube IE5, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The arm 22 is pivotally connected to the nozzle 40 at a position axially forwardly of the pivots M, so that when the angular direction of the free end of tube ii) is reversed at the end of each swing as heretofore described, the pivots 4| will move across the vertical axial plane of the arm 22, causing the nozzle to instantly change from one of its angular positions to the opposite angular position, and thus directing the nozzle in a more nearly tangential direction to its arc of swinging movement than in the first embodiment. Thus an increased component of the reaction force will tend to oscillate the tube It. Such a nozzle is particularly adapted for use where dusting is to be done with a low velocity air stream such as might be insufficient to properly actuate While the apparatus has been described with reference to particular structural details and with regard to one type of general organization, it will be understood that changes may be made in the elements as well as in the overall arrangement. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An insecticide distributor comprising, a stationary support, a flexible tube having its rear end attached to said support, a discharge nozzle mounted at the forward end of said tube, a rigid arrn mounted for horizontal swinging movement about an axis aligned with and forward of said support, the free end of said arm being pivotally connected to the tube for relative horizontal rotary movement, said arm guiding said tube for oscillation in a horizontal plane, the ends of said tube being compressed between said support and said arm to bow the medial portion of said tube horizontally and direct the nozzle at an angle to said arm, means for adjusting the length of said arm to vary said angle, means for forcing air through said tube and nozzle the reactionary force thereof causing said nozzle to swing about the pivoting axis of said arm, the resistance of said tube to flexing serving to periodically reverse the bow in said tube and the discharge angle of said nozzle at the end of each swing of said member to cause continuous oscillation thereof, means providing an annular chamber in said nozzle concentric to the air discharge orifice, a conduit for supplying liquid into said chamber, and said annular chamber having a series of discharge perforations to direct jets of fluid into the air stream issuing from said nozzle.

2. In an insecticide distributor, a stationary support, a resiliently flexible tube having a rear end attached to said support, a discharge nozzle mounted at the forward end of said tube, a rigid arm mounted for horizontal swinging movement about an axis aligned with and forward of the rear end of said tube, the free end of said arm being pivotally connected to the tube for relative horizontal rotary movement, said arm guiding said tube for oscillation in a horizontal plane, the ends of said tube being compressed axially between the support and said arm to bow the medial portion of said tube horizontally and direct the nozzle at an angle to said arm, said arm being linearly adjustable to vary said angle, means for forcing a stream of air through said tube the reactionary force thereof causing said nozzle to swing about the axis of said arm, and the resistance of said tube to flexing serving to periodically reverse the bow in said tube and the discharge angle of said nozzle at the end of each swing to cause continuous oscillation thereof.

3. In an insecticide distributor, a stationary support, a resiliently flexible tube having its rear end fixedly attached to said support, a discharge nozzle mounted at the forward end of said tube, a rigid arm mounted for horizontal swinging movement about an axis aligned with said fixed end, the free end of said arm being pivotally connected to said tube for relative horizontal rotary movement and said arm guiding said tube for oscillation in a horizontal plane, the ends of said tube being compressed axially between said support and said arm to bow the medial portion of said tube horizontally and direct the nozzle at an angle to said arm, means for forcing a stream of air through said tube the reactionary force thereof causing said nozzle to swing about the axis of said arm, and the resistance of said tube to flexing serving to periodically reverse the bow therein and the discharge angle of said nozzle at the end of each swing to cause continuous oscillation of the tube.

4. Apparatus for distributing an insecticide comprising, a stationary tubular support, a resilient horizontally arranged tube having its rear end fixedly attached to said tubular support, a discharge nozzle pivotally mounted at the forward end of said tube for horizontal swinging movement about an axis diametrical to said free end between predetermined opposite angular positions relative to the free end, a rigid arm pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement about a stationary vertical axis disposed radially to the rear end, said arm being pivotally connected to said discharge nozzle for relative horizontal rotary movement about an axis located forwardly of the pivotal mounting of said nozzle and extending diametrically to the axis of said nozzle, said discharge tube being compressed in an endwise direction between its connections to said arm and said support to bow the medial portion of the tube horizontally and direct the free end thereof at an angle to the radius thereof, means for discharging a fluid medium through said nozzle and the reactionary force of said discharge causing the tube to flex horizontally about its rear end and the resultant forces set up in the tube serving to reverse the discharge angle of the free end at the end of each swing.

5. Apparatus for distributing an insecticide comprising, a stationary support, a resiliently flexible tube having its rear end fixedly attached to said support, a discharge nozzle pivotally mounted at the forward free end of said tube for swinging movement between predetermined opposite angular positions relative to said tube, a vertical arm pivotally mounted for swinging movement about an axis adjacent said rear end of the tube, said arm being pivotally attached to said discharge nozzle at a point forwardly of the pivotal mounting of said nozzle for relative rotary movement about an axis parallel to that of said pivotal mounting, and said discharge member being compressed in an endwise direction between its connections to said arm and said support to bow the medial portion of said tube horizontally.

6. In an insecticide distributor, a fixed hollow conduit member, a flexible and resilient tube in communication with said conduit member and secured thereto and extending in a horizontal manner therefrom, a discharge nozzle carried by the free end of said tube, a rigid horizontally disposed arm extending in the general direction of said tube, means providing a bearing for said rod adjacent the fixed hollow member guiding the arm for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane, means connecting the free end of said arm to the nozzle for supporting the nozzle and the free end of the tube, and said arm being of such length as to maintain a medial portion of the tube displaced from the axis of said fixed hollow member.

7. In apparatus for distributing an insecticide, an elbow maintained in a fixed position with an open end disposed in a horizontal position, a resilient and flexible tube secured to said horizontal portion of the elbow and extending rear- Wardly therefrom in a generally horizontal plane, a rod extending along said tube in generally vertical alignment therewith, a bearing positioned in alignment with the horizontal portion of the elbow and rearwardly therefrom supporting said rod for swinging movement about the axis of the bearing in a substantially ,horizontal plane, a pivotal connection between the free end of said rod and the free end of the tube, and said rod being of such a length as to maintain a bow in the medial portion of the tube.

AUGUST W. GUSTAFSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,230,458 Bouer June 19, 1917 1,546,714 Buzbee July 21, 1925 1,716,305 Dillman June 4, 1929 2,003,184 Friedrich May 28, 1935 

